Manaslu Meditation Trek
with Khenpo Tokpa Tulku in the Nubri District of Nepal
Mar 31 - Apr 13, 2024
Join us for this very special trek with the inspiring Khenpo Tokpa Tulku to his home and monastery in the majestic Nubri near Manaslu – the 8th highest peak in the world!
LIMITED TO 10 PILGRIMS - reserve your spot NOW!
This is an incredibly unique opportunity to spend 2 weeks in the wondrous nature of the Himalayas whilst receiving meditation training under the guidance of a master. teacher, Khenpo Karma Gyurmey Lama (also known as Tokpa Tulku – “the boy from Tokpa”) was born in 1978 in Nubri in northern Nepal. In 1987, when he was nine years old, he was ordained as a Buddhist monk at Ka Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery in Boudhanath, Nepal. There he pursued his elementary studies, which included memorizing many texts and learning the monastery's tradition of chanting. In 1998 he commenced studies in the monastic college at the Sangye Yeshe Higher Shedra. He studied there for nine years, focusing on texts related to sutra- and mantra-level Buddhism as well as general fields of study. Currently he teaches to those who are interested in Buddhist teachings, both ordained and lay, from both East and West.
We at The Spiritual Pilgrim have had the great fortune to receive and share his teachings with each of our groups since 2010. Tokpa Tulku has become Cory’s (The Spiritual Pilgrim founder) main teacher and spiritual friend and it is truly an honor to consider sharing this experience with him and all of you.
Khenpo’s grandfather and father were also Tibetan Buddhist lineage holders. They maintained a small monastery that Rinpoche inherited. It was damaged by the 2015 earthquake and is in need of repairs. Part of our mission is to raise funds to help support the renovations — and a percentage of the proceeds of this trip will go to do exactly that. Plus, we will spend three days of this trip tent camping around the monastery and experiencing practice under his guidance.
Helping Khenpo Tokpa Tulku
Khenpo Tokpa Tulku’s grandfather and then father maintained a mountain monastery going back over 100 years. Unfortunately it was damaged significantly by the 2015 earthquake and is in need of repairs to preserve the structure and protect the incredible wall murals and precious dharma objects inside. Tokpa Tulku aspires to keep up the monastery in service to the local people there and he returns annually for more than a month to lead puja ceremonies and offer teachings. It is our wish to do all we can to support the preservation of the monastery and a percentage of all of our offerings goes toward a renovation fund. Your contributions are greatly appreciated!
Manaslu, also known as the Gorkha Himal, nestled between two rivers is geographically spectacular and culturally fascinating. Circumnavigating Manaslu is one of the toughest treks in Nepal, one with sensational mountain views and one of the most dramatic Himalayan passes, the 5213m Larkya La. Much of this trek is in the region known as Nubri, an area of strong Tibetan influence and home to incredible Tibetan Buddhist masters such as Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and his sons, which include our dear teachers, Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, the departed Chokling Rinpoche, Tsokni Rinpoche, and Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche.
We’ll start our days early with meditation practice (and some days yogāsana too if there’s an adequate place to do it and it’s not too cold!). Cory will be serving as Tokpa Tulku’s assistant and pilgrimage leader. He is a practicing Buddhist in the Tibetan Kagyu Nyingma tradition of Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche and Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche and an Ashtanga Yoga teacher – Founder of Yoga Shala Nashville. Drawing from his experience under their guidance since 2010 he cultivates a relaxed, gentle approach to yoga/meditation and encourages self-exploration through supplemental practices like journaling and being in nature. So, this environment is perfect for practice under his care.
Cost: $4400/person
Secure your spot with an $600 nonrefundable* deposit.
*We understand that sometimes unforeseen circumstances result in the need to cancel; however, deposits help us maintain operations and prepare for upcoming pilgrimages. As such we offer the following caveats:
If you cancel at least 3 months prior to the start date of the trip we will:
Refund 50% of your deposit; or
Apply 75% forward toward the deposit for a future offering.
If within the 3 month window for the pilgrimage that you originally booked the deposit is 100% nonrefundable.
Final payments due Feb 15, 2024.
Cost includes:
Meditation training with Rinpoche
Lodging (tent camping)
Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
All domestic transport as listed in itinerary (by private 4x4 Jeep)
National Park entrance fees
Trekking permit (TIMS)
Porter to carry personal gear (1 porter for 2 clients)
12kg per person luggage allowance while on trek
English speaking trekking guide
Comprehensive medical kit
Bottle water (3 bottle each day)
Cost Does Not Include:
Arrival/departure flights to/from Kathmandu
Cost for extra usage of vehicle, other than scheduled & mentioned in the itinerary
Cost for any other service not mentioned under the “Cost Includes” above
Cost for Insurance
Additional cost arising due to mishaps, political unrest, natural calamities like - landslides, road blockage, etc. In such cases extra funds will have to be paid on the spot by the guest directly
Payment for service provided on a personal request
Personal expenses such as laundry, bottled water, soft and hard drinks, incidentals, porter charges, tips etc.
Lodging
The lodging for this trip will be super bare bones, no frills. We’ll be tent camping for the duration. Our porters will be carrying our camping supplies (which will be provided), including food and will set up our tents with a hard floor installed and then sleeping pads and sleeping bags on top. So, it’ll be comfortable, but simple!
Itinerary in detail
DAY 01: DRIVE KATHMANDU - SHOTIKHOLA - MACCHA KHOLA - JAGAT 700m. Alt. 149 KM / 8-9 HRS
We set off early today for Shotikhola. During the drive, we’ll enjoy views of the Nepali countryside alongside mountain scenery. We will be driving on a paved road from Kathmandu to Dhading Bensi, district headquarter of Dhading (1050m) but the drive from Dhanding Bensi to Arughat will be on a rough road. Upon reaching Arughat, a major town in the region we drive further towards Sotikhola, Maccha Khola and Jagat where we’ll spend the night in a local lodge.
DAY 02: JAGAT TO DENG / 1804m / 7 HRS
We begin today’s trek by climbing over a rocky ridge to Salleri, and then descend to Sirdibas. The valley widens a bit as the trail continues up to Ghatta Khola. We further continue walking upstream to a long suspension bridge in Philim, a large Gurung village. The trail turns north just above the lowest house in the village and stays on a fairly level trail as it crosses millet fields to Ekle Bhatti. The route now enters a steep, uninhabited gorge. At this point, we descend to the grassy land slopes, cross the Budhi Gandaki, then trek along the west bank for a while, then cross to the east bank and then back again. As we continue through the trail the valley widens and we pass through bamboo forests to the Deng Khola. Upon crossing the Khola, we reach the tiny village of Deng and our night’s lodging.
DAY 03 to Day 5: DENG TO PROK / 2660m / 7 HRS – to Khenpo Tokpa Tulku’s village
After a brief walk beyond Deng, we cross the Budhi Gandaki and climb to Rana at 1910m. From the bridge, we climb a bit to join a trail from Bhi, then head west up the Budhi Gandaki valley. The trail also passes through forests where we turn towards a corner that contours to Ghap. Prok village (Tokpa Tulku’s home) has a viewpoint for a beautiful sight of Siringi Himal.
DAY 06: SERANG TO GHAP / 2660m / 7- 8 HRS
DAY 07: GHAP TO NAMRUNG / 2680m / 7-8 HRS
Day 08: NAMRUNG TO SAMA GAON / 3440m
The trail follows the Nubri region; the trail passes Barcham and crosses Hinan Khola and reaches Sho. The trail then follows to Lho and drops down across Damonan Khola. Ascend again to a plateau at Shya.Crossing a ridge the trail descends onto a rock-strewn moraine and goes onto a ridge overlooking pastures and fields of Samagaon.
Day 9: VISIT MINGYUR RINGPOCHE'S VILLAGE
The Sama Gompa is nestled against a wooded moraine at the far end of the valley. You will be surrounded by mountains when you reach Sama Gompa. You can also visit one of the oldest Sama Monastery. We’ll need one full day for acclimatization. In the meantime we can take excursions to the village and monasteries. The surrounding of Sama Gompa is full of monasteries.
We’ll spend the day at Samagaon both for rest and acclimatization. Today, we’ll get acquainted with the rich Sherpa culture. We enjoy the sight of thousands of mani stones with Buddhist texts and pictures and the Sherpa women clad in traditional clothes and ornaments.
On a little hill near the Sama village is an old Gompa (Pungyen Gompa), a monastery with great views of the glacier. It is named after Manaslu, Pungyen means bracelet, a good description of the two peaks. It was destroyed a year after the first unsuccessful Japanese attempt to climb Manaslu. The locals believed that the climb angered the gods, and when the Japanese came back a year later they met with a lot of resistance that they had to give up their attempt. They were finally successful in 1959.
DAY 10: SAMA GAON TO SAMDO / 3780m / 4 HRS
Today, we descend to the Budhi Gandaki River, that has turned north and follow it to a bridge over a side stream. The trail to the left leads to the Manaslu Base camp. The Larkya la Trail passes several mani walls as the valley begins to widen. It is an easy trail on a shelf above the river passing the juniper and birch forests of Kermo Kharka. We drop off the shelf, cross the Budhi Gandaki on a wooden bridge and climb steeply onto a promontory between two forks of the river. From a stone arch we can view a large white kani. Finally passing through the kani we find Samdo.
DAY 11: SAMDO / DHARAMSALA (LARKYA BASE CAMP) / 4460m / 5 HRS
Even today, we continue our walk down the edge, cross the wooden bridge over Budi Gandaki and begin walking upward. Upon crossing two streams and witnessing the Larkya Glacier we go around the valley of the Salka Khola and climb up again to the stone guest house (4450 m), which is not a lodge but a kind of shelter called Dharmshala, also known as Larke Phedi. The short walk today also leaves plenty of time for acclimatization and relaxing in the afternoon.
DAY 12: DHARAMSALA / LARKYA LA (5160m) / BIMTHANG / 3720m / 8 HRS
After a short climb, we reach a valley on the north side of the Larkya Glaciers from where we can enjoy great views of Cho Danda and Larkya Peak. Finally, we walk across moraines of the glacier, making a gradual ascent which becomes steeper only in the last section of the pass. From the pass, there are outstanding views of Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kangguru and the huge Annapurna II. It is a longer day than usual to Bimtang, but to walk into these low pastures with the evening mist coming in with Mt. Manaslu looming close by is an overwhelming experience.
DAY 13: BIMTHANG / TILJE / DHARAPANI 2827m / 6 HRS
The trek descends to Dudh Khola and reaches Gho crossing Pine and Rhododendron forests. At the foot of the valley, part of Lamjung Peak above the Marsyangdi valley comes into sight.The trail continues to Tilje via Gho villages.
We climb over a small ridge and enjoy the stone paved trail as it passes through a beautiful village. We then cross the bridge over Dudh Khola and climb up through a chorten-shaped arch, pass a mani wall and reach the Thonje village. At the village, we go through a police checkpoint and continue to Dharapani.
DAY 14: DRIVE TAAL TO BESI SAHAR / KATHMANDU / 220 KMS / 9 - 10 HRS
The drive from Taal to Kathmandu via Besi Sahar offers one an opportunity to enjoy both hill and mountain landscapes. The drive is often along the banks of the Marsyangdi and Trishuli rivers. On the way we’ll traverse several suspension bridges and experience several beautiful waterfalls, as well as views of Mt. Lamjung (22,291 Ft.), Manaslu (26,760 Ft.) and Peak 29 (24,652 Ft.).
We also drive by some beautiful villages with farming terraces on both sides of the road. In Kathmandu, we will be escorted to our hotel. The day in Kathmandu can either be spent in leisure or perhaps we catch up with some last-minute shopping.
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